Still working on filling my quota of Japanese things

Hello all! Before this blog, I have gone to Kyoto, Nagoya port, Atsuta Jingu, Nagano, and basically ran around Nagoya. It's been a while since I last wrote, so I'll try to keep explanations short.

Kyoto was fantastic, I am definitely getting my money's worth by doing IES. And DU is paying for all of it! It's a sweet deal. We made hand-painted fans, saw Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo-jo Castle, and the bamboo forest at Arashiyama. We also got to speak to a Meiko and Geiko (Japanese words for apprentice geisha and geisha) and ride in a rickshaw around Arashiyama. Pretty stereotypical Kyoto experience, which of course is still fantastic.



Nagoya port was alright, it was rather industrial and didn't have much. We just went there and ate lunch. On the way back, there was a festival going on at Atsuta Jingu (one of Japan's most prominent shrines), so I stopped by there to check it out. An elderly Japanese man saw me when I walked in and said, "Hello! Wait for a second, I'm going to get coffee, then I'll show you around." I was rather surprised, but I'd have to say it's the best tour I've ever received in my life. The man is a retired structural engineer, and he took an hour and a half to explain the religious, structural, and cultural elements of each shrine in the entire Jingu. He also explained the festival, and we got to witness part of a Japanese style wedding. I am so blessed to have gotten such a thorough education there on Japanese cultural elements.



Then my okaasan took me to Kouranke to see the leaves turn for fall (this is called kouyou). My god was it gorgeous. We ate mochi, drank matcha, and basically just enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather.

Nagano is just a fantastically gorgeous place. We went to temples and shrines, I got to dip my feet in a foot-hot spring, then went to my friend's host family's friends (quite far removed) second home right outside the Japanese Alps. There, we had a Japanese-style barbecue (a grate inside a big wood table) and talked late. The next day, we went out walking, then drove to Magome, where there are some of the best views. Nagano reminds me a lot of Western Colorado, but different plants.



As far as school goes, I know I can give a mildly comprehensible presentation in Japanese, and I still absolutely love my classes. I'd have to say compared to DU, I'd much rather take classes at Nanzan. They are very serious about getting you a thorough education, and all my teachers are of the top quality.

Mata ato! Till next time.

Oh the places...

Japan is just bursting with places to visit!

Two weekends ago, IES Abroad took us to visit Takayama, Shirakawa-go, and Gujo Hachiman. These are 3 towns north of Nagoya, closer to the Japanese Alps. Shirakawa-go is known for it's phenomenal snowfall, and the traditional thatch-roof houses built to withstand the cold and snow. Takayama is further North, and famous for it's agriculture (especially miso), Tokugawa-era shogunate administrative house, and--of course--the gorgeous nature surrounding it. And Gujo Hachiman...well...besides the fact that I ate some delicious dango on the street, it is known for "sampuru", the plastic food displays you see in front of a lot of restaurants here. We even had the opportunity to cover vaguely vegetable-looking pieces of plastic in wax (supposedly tempura) ourselves! Not quite sure what I'm going to do with that souvenir yet...

Shirakawa-go

My time in Takayama was quite memorable. This is because I love food, and there is a lot of great food in Takayama. I woke up extra early to wander around town a bit (I looked for places to hike, but we were too close to town...sad...), and stumbled upon the Sunday morning-market, where I bought regional miso (filled with nuts and fruit! It's like a chutney, it is indescribably delicious) and a big bag of apples. Then after our group had breakfast and toured the shogunate house, I went back to the market. I ate so well...a skewer of the regional specialty, Hida beef, barely grilled and served with a cup of hot sake was definitely the winner. It was $8-9 for it, but definitely worth it. I saw candy-makers, shichimi-togarashi-grinders, cloth-weavers, incense-crafters, wood-carvers...Takayama is filled to the brim with handcrafted items.

Shichimi-maker in Takayama

Otherwise, I've been on break! Hooray for fall! Our school holds a festival called Nanzan-sai every autumn where all the school clubs give performances and make street food for 4 straight days! I went for 2 of the days to see my friend dance, eat taiyaki and takoyaki, and generally just hang out with all the Nanzan students :)

Not to mention during my break I've been doing 5-hour karaoke sessions, going to izakaya, and basically taking time off. It's been wonderful! Today since okaasan and I both had a break she decided she could dress me up in a kimono. It took probably 15-20 minutes to put it on me, but I think it fits well, don;t you? Maybe I'll see if I can get a used one and learn to put it on myself :)

Okaasan dressing me up.

The final product.

That's all for now, next up this weekend I go to Kyoto (finally!)...keep in touch :)